COVENTRY CITY 2-0 WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS BY KEV MONKS
Coventry City got 2006 off to the best possible start with a 2-0 home victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
On a cloudy but not too cold day, Micky Adams made changes to the team which put in that dreadful first half performance on Saturday at Preston North End.
Andy Whing,Claus Jorgensen and Mat Heath were benched with Adie Williams giving an outing against his former club whilst back came Richard Duffy,Michael Doyle,Dele Adebola. Stern John also got a place in a three pronged Sky Blue attack.
In front of the biggest crowd of the season at the Arena,mainly thanks to a Wolves following of just under six thousand ensuring a new stadium record of 26,851, Gary McSheffrey should have put City ahead inside thirteen seconds.
Unfortunately,the City striker did not realise how much time he had on the ball and screwed a right footed effort from twelve yards wide of the goal.
Glenn Hoddle's side won two corners before City won their first in the sixth minute. Joel Lescott initially cleared the flag kick by McSheffrey and the ball was knocked back in. A left footed shot by Dele Adebola inside the six yard box was parried by Wolves keeper Stefan Postma.
The ball came back to James Scowcroft inside the penalty area and pretty central. Scowcroft picked his spot driving the ball through a crowded penalty area and into the net.
As the match commentary boomed out of the Arena speakers,Michael Doyle flashed an 18th minute shot wide.
Wolves attacking the CET Stand had looked shy up front and their best chance came in the 19th minute when Colin Cameron attempted to lob Marton Fulop. Thankfully the ball bounced to the right and went out for a goal kick.
When Wolves did venture forwards,they found themselves up against the battling Richard Shaw and Adie Williams. Both had a fine game in defence and confidently dealt with what the likes of Cameron,Miller and Mark Kennedy.
In the 34th minute,City scored again. This time,with a goal worthy of being an early candidate for own goal of the year.
James Scowcroft won City a corner. McSheffrey took the kick on the right, send it over to the opposite side of the penalty area where Marcus Hall was waiting. The Coventry kid nodded forward,Joel Lescott stuck out his right leg and from six yards out deflected it into his own net.
Mark Kennedy had the ball in the net in the 36th minute but the assistant on the East Stand side had his flag up long before he stroked the ball into the net.
Michael Doyle,along with Isaac Osbourne were working hard in City's midfield and in the 39th minute,a bad trip of Doyle saw Colin Cameron become the first name in the book of referee Eddie Ilderton who allowed the game to flow.
Marton Fulop who now punches more like Steve Bendall than Audley Harrison did have to make one save and that was in the 40th minute when he threw himself to his right to push a Kenny Miller twenty yarder round the post.
Wolves must have had a big rollicking from their manager whose managerial talents, in my opinion, have yet to live up to his playing ability, as the Staffordshire side started to look more determined after the restart.
Gabor Gyepes rifled wide from twenty yards followed by a Mark Kennedy cross.
In what was a good natured affair with both sides kicking the ball out of play when an opposing player went down injured, Tom Huddlestone was booked for unsporting behaviour before Gary McSheffrey fired wide in the 57th minute.
Glenn Hoddle tried to change things round, taking off first Jody Craddock and then former England international and treatment table hogger Darren Anderton.
Marton Fulop made another good dive to his left to deny Kenny Miller in the 69th minute before the Scot was cautioned for a trip on Richard Shaw a minute later.
In the 74th minute,Micky Adams made his first change bringing on Andy Whing at the expense of Gary McSheffrey.
Gyepes became the fourth player booked and with eleven minutes to go,a screamer from Miller flew just over the crossbar.
In order to waste time, Adams made two more changes with Andy Morrell and Claus Jorgensen getting onto the field of play
Wolves won a couple of late corners but City today were on top of their game and were always good enough to ensure a victory.
HT CCFC 2-0 WWFC
FT CCFC 2-0 WWFC
ATT 26,851
Goals James Scowcroft (6), Joel Lescott (33 OG)
Booked Cameron,Huddlestone,Miller,Gyepes
Team
Fulop, Duffy,Williams, Shaw, Hall, Scowcroft, Osbourne, Doyle (Jorgensen 92) , McSheffrey (Whing 74) ,Adebola, John (Morrell 90)
SNU Ince, Heath
SNU Ince, Heath
Wolves
Postma, Lescott, Craddock (Seol 59) , Gyepes, Edwards, Anderton (Rosa 66), Huddlestone, C Cameron (Ganea 76), Kennedy, Miller, Clarke
Subs: M Oakes, P Ince
Subs: M Oakes, P Ince